Important Notice: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Saddle Rock Ranches

On June 15, 2024, the City of Centennial enacted an ordinance amending its Land Development Code (LDC) to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (“ADUs”) on certain residentially zoned properties. According to the City:

“An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a second smaller dwelling unit located on the same lot as the main house. The unit is designed for independent living with space for sleeping, cooking and a bathroom.” City of Centennial ADU Program centennialco.gov

The ordinance further provides that:

“All ADUs are required to maintain a separate address from the principal dwelling.” City of Centennial Detached ADU Guide (Section 12-14-303, Pre-Submittal Requirements)

and that:

“ADUs must be permanent, habitable structures (mobile homes, recreational vehicles and travel-trailers are prohibited) and must comply with all building, setback, height and design regulations applicable to single-family dwellings.”

While this ordinance establishes the City’s land-use allowance for ADUs, it does not override or modify private covenants recorded against a property. The City’s ADU webpage explicitly notes that “homeowners associations (HOAs) may have additional rules about uses and design of ADUs that may be different from the City.” Accordingly, every property within Saddle Rock Ranches remains governed by its recorded Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), which impose more restrictive standards on land use, building sites, and rental activity. 

Saddle Rock Ranches CC&R Requirements

The governing Second Consolidated Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions recorded April 27, 2001, contains the following provisions:

Article I, Section 1 – Residential Purposes Only

“All Lots shall be for residential purposes only, and no building shall be erected or placed on any lot other than one private single-family dwelling, together with a private garage and such outbuildings as are customarily appurtenant to such a dwelling.”

and

Article I, Section 16 – Restrictions on Further Subdividing

“No lot or lots shall be subdivided, except for the purpose of combining portions with an adjoining lot, provided that no additional building site is created thereby. … Not less than one entire lot, as originally platted, shall be used as a building site.”

These provisions tie allowable building activity to the original recorded plats for Saddle Rock Ranches. Each platted lot constitutes a single legal building site, and the creation of any new dwelling or separate address effectively constitutes an impermissible subdivision or additional building site under Section 16. 

Conflict Between City Ordinance and SRR CC&Rs

Because the City of Centennial requires that every ADU be issued a separate address and treats each as an independent dwelling unit, construction of an ADU within Saddle Rock Ranches would constitute the establishment of an additional dwelling on a single platted lot. This violates both the “one private single-family dwelling” restriction in Section 1 and the prohibition on “additional building sites” in Section 16.

Furthermore, the SRR CC&Rs allow rental or leasing of an entire residence as a single unit to a single family but expressly prohibit the rental of “a room or rooms in any dwelling unit or parts thereof.” (Article I, Section 20 – Rental Restrictions.) Because an ADU would constitute a separate rentable portion or dwelling on the same lot, it would also violate this rental restriction, even if the owner resides in the main house.

Accordingly:

Accessory Dwelling Units that require a separate address, create an additional dwelling unit, or enable partial-property rental conflict with Saddle Rock Ranches’ recorded covenants and are not permitted within the subdivision

Current Determination of ADUs within SRR

Therefore: 

Under the current CC&Rs and plats of record, ADUs are not allowed within Saddle Rock Ranches. Property owners may rent their entire single-family home to a single tenant or family, but the creation, permitting, or occupancy of a secondary dwelling unit—attached, detached, or internal—remains prohibited.

Disclaimer:

All information provided on this page is for general reference and reflects author commentary based on available records. It is not a substitute for official HOA governing documents or legal advice. All property use, improvements, and construction are subject to the Saddle Rock Ranches CC&Rs, applicable architectural review procedures, and any relevant requirements of the City of Centennial and the State of Colorado. It is the responsibility of each homeowner to verify the accuracy and applicability of all statutory, regulatory, and procedural requirements prior to making any purchase, construction, or property modification decisions.